Auditions are upcoming for the Sunflower Troupe’s spring show “The Odd Couple (Female Version)” by Neil Simon.
The auditions won’t only include acting roles, but will also be for non-acting support and technical roles, according to show organizers.
Auditions are scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 15 at 5:30 p.m. and Saturday, Feb. 17 at noon at the Sunflower Theatre at 8 E. Main St. in Cortez.
The play, which Director Hattie Miller said loosely inspired Bert and Ernie in Sesame Street, is a story of two women who move into an apartment together in New York City in the 1980s. The story documents the hilarity that ensues as these two friends live together.
“They are basically like Bert and Ernie,” Miller said. “They’re fire and water, they’re very opposites, and they end up in a situation where they share an apartment. It’s a fun comedy.”
In auditions, Miller said they are looking for two women in their late-30s to mid-40s to play the lead characters, four females to play characters in their early 30s to early 50s and two males to play characters in their mid-30s to late 40s.
Other roles are stage manager, set design assistant, props manager, costume assistant and tech assistant, who would help with lights and sound.
“We are looking for help with set build and costume assistance,” Miller said. “We have a great costume designer, but she’s not able to be there during the performances, so we’re looking for someone who can come and help make sure costume changes go correctly between scenes.”
Miller also added those who don’t want to be on stage can still be part of the performance when they are in a supporting role.
“Not everyone who has the ‘theater bug’ is comfortable onstage. Volunteering to assist the troupe with some of these behind-the-scenes roles is a wonderful way to enjoy and contribute to the troupe’s energy,” Miller said. “We really need to fill these positions as much as we need actors on the stage.”
Rehearsals will begin the week of Feb. 26, and rehearsal times will be determined after casting, as they will see which evenings and times work best for the cast. For main roles, rehearsals will most likely be two to three times a week.
“We try to keep rehearsals during the weekday so people can have their weekends,” Miller said.
The show will open Friday, May 3 and will run for two consecutive weekends, including Sunday matinee performances.
Tickets to the show will be $20.
Miller added that those interested in being part of performances at Sunflower Theatre can also look forward to a radio show in the summer and a Halloween-themed show in the fall.
The Sunflower Troupe is a program of KSJD Community Radio and the Sunflower Theatre, both on Main Street.
The troupe is run entirely by volunteers, and was created to “provide an outlet for creative community involvement while seeking to produce quality entertainment.”
Questions and additional information can be directed to Director Hattie Miller at thehattiechannel@gmail.com.
